out of
To adapt a novel to film is not an easy task, and I must commend anyone for doing it well. The two mediums are entirely different: novels can contain many intriguing characters and describe in vast detail the worlds those characters live in; while films, however, are primarily sensorial, with their stories being told through images and sounds. In essence, one requires the imagination of the reader, while the other shows us that imagination. The Lord of the Rings, however, is not just a novel. It's an epic that has taken on a cult following. Now... how do you adapt that? Peter Jackson may just have the answer.
I must admit, I'm not one of those followers. In fact, I've never read the Tolkien novel this film is based on. So, whereas other critics (namely Roger Ebert for his thoroughly hypocritical critique) will compare the novel to the film, I will not. I can not. To begin, I will get my personal gripes out of the way (and really, there is only one). While I will take into account that this film is the first chapter in a trilogy, I can't accept the fact that this film has no ending. Whether this is Tolkien's or Jackson's doing is unknown to me. In either case, a film or novel is not a TV show, where you get to find out what happens the following week. You have to wait years (thankfully only one for this trilogy). Here, you have a beginning and a middle, but no resolution or climax. The goal of this film is to get the ring to its place of creation so it may be destroyed. And after nearly three hours of travelling, we don't find out if they succeed or fail. Once all the films are released, this may be a moot point, but as of now, this is a hugely problematic element. It's a tale of leaving home, venturing out on your own, and attaining a goal to work towards. After struggling through battle after battle, you can't wait for our heroes to reach their climactic moment... but it never comes. And this, in and of itself, prevents The Fellowship of the Ring from being a truly great film.
Since experiencing The Fellowship of the Ring is the primary joy of watching it, I will keep the plot details to a minimum. The film opens with an obligatory summation of the events that led to the creation of the One Ring, the ring that rules them all. This ring was created in the fires of Mount Doom, and must be returned there if it is to be destroyed. Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) has ended up with the ring, and on his eleventy-first (that's 111th) birthday, hands the ring over to his nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood). Advised by Gandalf (Ian McKellen), he sets out on a quest to destroy the ring. This sets into motion the main plot as Frodo and the "Fellowship of the Ring" journey through harsh territory to get back to Mount Doom.
Suffice it to say, this leads to many thrilling cinematic moments, varying from close calls with Ringwraiths (black, hooded undead creatures trying to get the ring back) to violent battles with Orcs. The Ringwraiths are scary and amazingly depicted by Jackson (you'll be reminded of Death in his own The Frighteners). With the Ringwraiths, Jackson achieves his best filmmaking, never showing too much but also showing enough to make us fear for our heroes. The evil that pervades and the suspense that looms as they approach is all too real. In one of the film's most awe-inspiring moments, Frodo is rescued by the elf Arwen (Liv Tyler) who then taunts the Ringwraiths. With a chant, the river they stand in becomes a stampede of horses, swallowing up the Ringwraiths. It is Jackson's subtle use of CGI that makes the scene work--they aren't really horses, but their shapes are identifiable.
Peter Jackson is one of the very few directors who understand how to use CGI effectively. Unlike Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which used CGI to horrifyingly bad effect, Jackson tries to keep his effects to a minimum. And whenever he is required to use them, he ensures the layering is perfect. During a dangerous trek through the mines of Moria (the film's high point), Jackson's CGI does begin to show, but you'll be so involved by that time as to not care. The imagination of the scene is so astonishing that any flaw is reduced to nitpicking. The brilliant realization of Gollum is shockingly beautiful, with his eyes staring into the camera (let me say that this is one of the creepiest images you will ever see on film). It is credit to Jackson that he doesn't use CGI more often (and if he does use it more than I thought, it is flawless).
What the film gets absolutely right is the visual look. Here is perhaps the most gorgeous and fantastical fantasy film ever made. From the glow of the Elf Queen Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) to the dark recesses of Mount Doom to the glorious city of the elves, your attention will be drawn away from the story for moments to capture the beauty of the images. The pictures Jackson gives us are, at least to my mind, the picture-perfect version of fantasy filmmaking. As a medium, film has the advantage over any other to give us beautiful images to tell the story. Jackson is a master and lets us feast on his creation. There isn't one single moment that doesn't ring true in the world of Middle Earth. And maybe that's the highest compliment you can pay to Jackson and his crew.
Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, who helped create the fantasy world of Babe: Pig in the City, aides Jackson in the best way possible. The camerawork is very impressive without drawing attention to itself. Even during the confused battle scenes, you still know what is going on. Lesnie uses many different techniques, including soft focus lenses, to capture the magic of this world. One of the most remarkable pictures is of Frodo and his fellowship fleeing the Orcs in Moria--the light from Gandalf's staff creates an eerie glow around the group. Much of the credit must go to the costume and set designers, all of whom put in top quality work here. Gandalf's wizard costume is brilliantly imagined, as is the Elf Queen's free-flowing robes. And not to mention the Ringwraiths stunningly haunting appearance. But of them all, it is the evil Saruman's brilliant use of contrast that will lead to Oscar glory (without a doubt, this film will win Best Costume Design). The art directors had much to deal with here, and they have vibrantly created Middle Earth in all its ethereal glory. In short, this film is a technical marvel that will, much like 1997's Titanic, sweep away most of the awards (though the film score by Howard Shore is a tad disappointing--at times, it even sounds like Titanic).
Remarkably, the acting is of the highest quality, with Elijah Wood carrying the film on his small Hobbit shoulders. Wood, who has always been a talented actor, finally gets a lead roll that will make him a star. His cherubic face and piercing blue eyes make every moment believable. When he is forced to go on the quest, his fear is more than evident. It's really a shame that his character is such a frightened one, which forces other characters in to play a bigger role than they probably should. Ian McKellen is superb as Gandalf, towering over the others with a grace and gallantry. Viggo Mortensen creates a nice tragic hero who captures our attention with every word he utters. Liv Tyler makes a memorable appearance as Arwen, and when she leaves the film, you definitely notice it. Her presence on screen is penetrating. Sean Astin is terrific as Frodo's best friend, as are Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan as the other two hobbits. Orlando Bloom in his limited character is magnetic and has a great screen presence. I've never seen him before, but he's got the kind of face the camera loves to film. Ian Holm is very good as the conflicted Bilbo Baggins, and Cate Blanchett stands out despite her limited screen time. In all, it's an excellent cast (too numerous to mention, in fact) that handles the material perfectly.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences and some scary images. This is definitely not for young children, as some of the scenes are genuinely frightening. In a time when fantasy films can't seem to be handled properly, Peter Jackson has crafted a film for the imagination. It will go down in history as an epic, and only time will tell if it contains the same staying power as The Wizard of Oz. My guess is that it doesn't, but it is still a wonderfully entertaining film. While I hoped for a great film, this is not a great film. The technical aspects are superb, and the acting is beautiful. The screenplay is top of the line, and the directing is phenomenal. Admittedly, I can't wait to see the next installment--if only to get some resolution to this film.
| Rating: out of
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© 2001 Boyd Petrie |